The view from............ Val d'Isere and the Espace Killy

A snowHead

Steve Angus, Great programme last night, now that you are a tv star I hope you still continue the regular snow updates Smile

A snowHead

Steve Angus, enjoyed your show.
Don't stop your blog - very much enjoyed.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

WOW

Inundated with messages, emails - you name it in the last 24 hours - not sure why?

Yes djtj the RING was only a temporary one and as I said on TV I had issues with the company supplying the temp ring that she would liked - I knew she would not like the temp ring too much. The one I gave was one of only about 2 on offer in the jewellery shop in town. The REAL ring will be made in the Summer off a family heirloom. Anyway the ring I gave was swapped that evening as Clare mentioned on the program - she was wearing it the next day (on TV when at the end we were both filmed chatting) but they decided not to show that on tv last night!

Scampi Dellahanti we had a great evening thank you with some friends watching at home with us... LOVELY dinner too - thanks Clare.

Pam W Clare and I actually went for the off piste ski before the chopper arrived - they filmed it... but again it did not make the cut. In actual fact LOADS of stuff was edited out... interview with a friend of mine, Clare cleaning our chalet, me giving a lesson, interview with Clares mum... amongst other stuff.

kitenski, pedancia, faceplantress, piccadilly, holidayloverxx - thank you for your kind words and YES Roger C and Freddie Paellahead the updates WILL continue...

TALKING OF WHICH

It was chilly this morning but I met my wonderful annual half term clients at their chalets. The kids greeted me in their usual way... a massive hug... but this time they were full of beans after been allowed to watch 'it' last night. Wonderful greeting - thanks kids.

I skied with Olivia, Tristan and Charlie first up... followed by little Alfie afterwards... snowboarding in the afternoon (again with Olivia)... it is always a busy week.

The pistes were pretty busy but not as bad as I thought they would be I have to say. It is interesting to note that even with the avalanche risk at 2 (out of 5)... there is a risk there....

This photo was taken on the side of a green run on the Bellevarde (Zone Tranquille) area of Val d'Isere this afternoon. Even though it is not 100% clear there has been a small slide right by this green run you can see a few plagues in the centre of the screen. Not big enough to kill but certainly big enough to cause injury as I estimated a tonne of snow had slide in total. Remember as far as danger is concerned, piste is piste, and off-piste is exactly that.... be careful.

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a clip of your proposal was just shown on The Wright Stuff on 5.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

WOW... I had always imagined you as a good looking guy that would have a good complete head of hair on him... whip of that hat/helmet though and you're as bald as me!!! Shocked

How's the temps in resort and how are the half term crowds?

Having always avoided half term skiing, I've yet to sample the delights of a really busy resort.

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shoogly, he's still good-looking, though. Very Happy

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Pedantica, I thought that! Very Happy

After all it is free

Kids say the funniest things and resorts do the strangest things.

Happy belated Valentines day... the annual attempt by me to cook Valentines Day dinner went well - even though it took about five hours, every pot, pan, plate, side plate, cup, fork, knife......... in the flat. Anyway by the time I had finished that I was cream crackered so thought id post yesterdays report this morning.

shoogly - temps in resort are picking up... going to be seasonally average next few days - woohoo. Half Term crowds are pretty minimal actually so all good.
faceplantress - thanks for the heads up on that.

Anyway had another enjoyable days teaching yesterday. The snow in resort is still in good condition but there are certainly areas that get very icey - especially later in the day... we could do with a freshen up. There is nothing really in the forecast although it looks sort of threatening out there this morning I don't think much / if any, will come down.

It was the 20th anniversary celebrations of Val d'Isere hosting (or being one of the hosts I really should say) the Winter Olympics (Albertville 1992). Not really much in the way of celebrations had been planned until yesterday. They (the Mairies office) decided in their insanity (IMO) to have a free for all entry to a GS race TOP TO BOTTOM of the Face. So basically from the top of the Olympic ALL the way down to the very bottom of the face. The first 500 people got a commemorative medal. It was only semi-serious... but there were 150 gates - that is about twice as many as a modern and LONG world cup GS race. I do not know how people did not kill themselves as it must have been seriously tiring... the winning time was about 4 minutes too.......... WHAT where they thinking.

The afternoon 'event' was slightly less crazy but people had to take a run up on the tuck to the very last steep section off the face (skiers right of the cauldron if you know where I mean) and the fastest speed through the gun at the bottom won... not sure what the prize or top speed was but at least they erected safety netting!

Various photos of the GS race set up on the face - JUST before it started.

There was a tourchlite descent in the evening (not my turn to do it this week) and fireworks and that completed celebrations.

I had the same crew of kids in the same order again and kids never fail to amaze me.

Olivia (who by her mothers admission - id agree) is a complete tomboy is starting to get a little more 'girly' in her older age - she is 9 now. 'She even has a pink fleece these days,' Trudy tells me. Well anyway I found it completely bizarre that yesterday in one breath at hot chocolate break she whips out a small packet (and shares it around) of love-heart chocolates 'because it is Valentines Day,' (even giving some to the older boys), and then tells me 'you can have the last two, one for you and one for Clare.' BLESS................................. no sooner had she said that but embarks on talking about some computer game she loves playing at home where she gets to shoot aliens etc etc etc. kids say and do the funniest things!.

Oh and by the way Pedantica and Piccadilly - no comment - ha ha.

A change in the weather... the cold snap is officially over

I was quite surprised that it was moderately windy, cloudy and snowy this morning... so it was a tough call with the kids whether to go for the tried and tested options Bellevarde / La Daille / into Tignes or got for a change of scenery on Solaise... I went with Solaise.

Charly and Tristan togged up to the max as we set off for a morning skiing the reds of Solaise.

The kids all did really well given the poor weather as we went up and down the Arcelle red run into the Manchet Valley and then latterly down the Mattis red to catch the bus back into town... I felt like a counsellor in that am part of the day as there was arguments and fallings out 3 ways for differing things... 'just concentrate on the skiing and what we are working on here and now kids' is what I found myself trying to explain to them. At lunchtime when I 'swapped' those three (Olivia not in the photo above) for Alfie I told them all (individually without each other knowing) to apologise to each other (when I saw them later this afternoon they all seemed best of mates again so maybe it worked!).

Alfie did SO well this afternoon. He is only little but in that weather he managed (amongst other things) to make it from the top of Tomeusses (his frist trip up there) all the way down the blue run and then the green run into La Daille.. he was SOOOOOOOO tired when we got to the bottom and I certainly pushed him hard... however it was a 'mileage' session today and tomorrow will be a technique session.

Snowy but good vis down into La Daille this afternoon.

At 2.30 I was informed when I took Alfie back to the meeting point that no-one wanted to ski / board / have a lesson this arvo so I had an unexpected early finish which was a nice surprise. Have caught up on some admin and may treat myself to a visit to the cinema this evening to watch The Iron Lady as it is showing in english at the cinema - possibly!

The weather should improve again overnight and it will be relatively warm and sunny from tomorrow for a few days - the cold snap in France is now (thankfully) over.

SAD NEWS: Reports are unclear but it would seem as if a seasonnaire (nationality not sure off as the name could be English or French (or any nationality I suppose)) called Quentin Collas was found dead in the river this morning - half way between La Daille and town... no footprints into the water could be found so not sure what happened. He was a worker in a kitchen somewhere in La Daille area (not sure whether on or off piste restaurant). Anyway he was reported as missing last night and it is a sad demise. Of course 3 years ago a similar event happened to a british student so lets hope that rational can be used when jumping (or not) to conclusions and that if the guy was British that the papers collect facts before coming up with headlines that make it sound like a death trap in Val d'Isere! RIP Quentin!

Police and investigation teams on the scene where the body was fished out at 10.30am today!

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

That is really sad news - thoughts are with his family and friends

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

What with that and the Ischgl avalanche, very sad news today. RIP to them both Sad

snow reports

Sad sad news...

Better news is that I had an email this morning saying there's been 15cm of lovely fresh light powder overnight and the skiing up top should be fantastic (well, even more fantastic than it is already).

Enjoy Steve and anyone else out there. Very Happy

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Steve Angus, are your ears burning?
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=86724&highlight=
wink

A snowHead

Great days sliding...

We woke to a blanket of fresh... About 10cm for the most part everywhere although it was still cloudy and snowing in places. The conditions really are just amazing this season... and it continues.

The kids had a warm up with me (no Olivia this morning - she wanted an easier session with Alfie at lunchtime) down Solaise and then I took the plunge and decided to take them on Le Face. As we got halfway up the clouds had temporarily closed right in and I thought twice about doing it... but I decided that it was now or never and the boys were quite up for it... so I went for it and low and behold the clouds cleared as we arrived at the steep section which was a blessing.

The boys did really well and I for one was quite chuffed with myself as I have taught (virtually single-handedly) Charlie since he was a beginner 6 seasons ago (he is now 10) so it was a very satisfying feeling.

Alfie and Olivia were knackered by the time I had finished with them at lunchtime and Olivia had a little 'moment' so did not take up her snowboarding lesson in the afternoon... however by the time it was decided that she was not coming I had already changed... so it was strange session where I took the whole family (all on skis) as I was boarding (bar Simon the father who was on his board). It was a fun little session as I found us some fresh powder to rip through which was awesome.

The mountains were sticking out through the clouds this afternoon therefore choosing the run carefully led to some excellent skiing, all the time knowing that many others at lower altitudes were stuck either in OR below the cloud!

Had a nice little trip up to 'millionaires row' above Val d'Isere last night as I went for a wander as it was actually not that cold (hurrah)... this morning as I went past I grabbed this photo.... there are some REALLY nice and EXCLUSIVE chalets up there.... anyone got about 10million Euros spare and you could buy a plot up there with a shed on it!

I also heard that the guy who was found dead yesterday in the River Isere was a Frenchman... thoughts to his family.

Last day of traditional mega Feb HT busy week tomorrow - yay..... have an easy transfer day on Saturday so may actually have a chilled day.... just a Bourg pick up at breakfast time from the Eurostar and the outgoing guests are self-driving so all in all should be pretty easy... the traffic will probably be grim though - you have been warned.

Im looking forwarding to testing out my new skis that arrived today from the factory.... thanks to Paul Jameson at White Dot for sorting me these puppies out.
http://www.whitedotfreeride.com/skis1.php

A snowHead

^^ new skis look smart Steve! *jealous*

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Piccadilly, second half of the week is being spent in Chamonix - my first time skiing there which is a crime seeing as my friends own a fabulous chalet close to the middle of town! Might also get to have a ski on the fantastic dps Wailers again

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Ahhhh, I shall let you off then, sounds fab!

5 weeks to wait til I'm back in Val

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Very Happy

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

SCORCIO...

Some thermometers in the direct sun were showing 18 degrees C today.... a few days ago they were showing -18...... of course the actual air temp was nowhere near as high as that but it felt like it.... I overlayered it and had to take off not one but two layers at lunchtime!

With the fresh snow (not a lot but enough the other day) and this massive temperature increase the avalanche danger has crept up to a 3 (which is when most people are caught in slides). There was CERTAINLY enough evidence all over the mountain of people that were being caught.

Right under the Mont Blanc lift this little localised category 1 slide was human trigered (skier by the look of things)... not enough to kill but it could have broken bones... but looks like this person got out OK......

...so close to the piste. Off-piste is off piste....... there is no grey area as far as securing the pistes are concerned.

I had a really great day teaching the kids today.... Olivia did two more stunning things. 1) she spent ages telling me about COD (Call of Duty - some sort of a shoot em up game or something - she is only 7!) and 2) she performed her first (intentional) 360 spin on the snowboard................... everyday is unique - that is for sure.

Tomorrow im doing the early Bourg / Eurostar run then taking the kids out on a lesson 10-1 and then having the afternoon off... we are expecting several days of nice and sunny weather... Spring is possibly trying to get an early start - who knows!

Off ice-karting this evening which should be great fun.

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Steve

Just saw the c4 documentary, it looked great and I wish you both all the best.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Woops - did it again - forgetting to do the daily update on a Saturday when I get in... Sunday morning instead then! - SORRY

It was an early start to get down the hill (there was no snow or ice on the roads just hundreds and hundreds of people) as rolled out of Val d'Isere about 5.30am. Today was officially billed as the busiest transfer day of the season.... all the (mainly) British HT holidaymakers leaving and all the (mainly) Parisian Halt Term holidaymakers coming up.

Anyway I managed to get down to Bourg train station without too many problems even though it was the busiest I have ever seen it at that time of the morning - there was rarely a moment when you could not see headlights in the rear-view mirror and taillights ahead of you from top of the hill all the way to the station.

Not the best image but as you can see Bourg train station was a hive of activity at 6.30am!

The Eurostar was on time and before I new it I was in the car on the way back up.... cars were already starting to back up by 7.15am coming down the hill into Bourg. Our outgoing guests (self-drivers) whom I have not heard from left Val d'Isere about 8.30am which I thought was a little late and I did warn them that the traffic was going to be horrendous - I hope they made their channel crossing last night.

why do people come on holiday and leave all their common sense behind them?
Like in the train station in the morning people just stood aimlessly right in the main throughfare as you come into the arrivals hall - totally blocking traffic up....

A friend of mine who is the manageress (no names) for a large chalet company here in town was telling me about the idiotic company director she had staying in one of her chalets this week who managed to leave ALL the taps running on full whack as he took the kids downstairs to have kids supper.... he was reminded that he had left the taps on full pelt as water started coming down the stairs and a wet patch appeared on the roof of the dining room!!!!!!!!!

AMAZES ME SOMETIMES!

When I got back into town I took the kids up for a last lesson... Charlie and Tristan were on good form and the weather was GREAT... they wanted to have a final blast so we zipped from black run to red run and then onto another black run... taking it all in their stride.

The slopes were somewhat emptier.....

...the pisteurs hut at the top of the Olympic was pretty quiet as I am sure they enjoyed a quieter day before chaos round two starts this coming week with the Parisians!

Had a lovely family lunch with all the kids and parents at the Folie Douce and we did our usual goodbyes - kids hanging off me not wanting to let go, which is always a strangely satisfying end to the week when you know the kids appreciate you. Thanks to Steve, Trudy, Simon and Clare (as always) for a fun week with their kids and for being generous as always. Next year I reckon some of the kids will be doing the hardest blacks I can find and others will be pushing for harder blues and possibly even an easy red - we shall see.

Up early this am to go and teach our chalet guests.... then (amongst other things) will be editing last weeks video.

Weather wise....

...not very exciting although need to watch that fluctuating freezing level.

After all it is free

Out early, get the best of the conditions, and get home early

That was the mantra today. It looked quite nice this morning but clouded over bit by bit and by lunchtime it was snowing (not hard) here in town and continues... only a cm or two but better than nothing.

Got so bored waiting for the bus this morning - it seemed like ages, that I resorted to taking photos of the sign.... all routes lead to the ski slopes!

I took our chalet guests out for their freebie session this morning... it was more of a 'show around the resort' session but it was cool and the odd tip or two they seemed to appreciate so all in all a good morning. I headed to the Fornet and it was DESERTED.... Very Happy

. I don't think it will stay that way as the hordes of 'skiers in jeans,' monoboarders and dodgy moustache sporting boarders, aka the Parisians arrive in town.

I put together another video this afternoon of last weeks kids I taught - I do a video for them each year which they love to show of with at school. (I did NOT choose the music - Charlie in the video choose it!).

http://youtube.com/v/aepz6T1EeeU

Sad news about the coach crash in northern France... thoughts are obviously with the dead mans family but also thoughts go out the instructors who were on that coach!

Got an email from YSE with this great photo in it.

Looks cool Very Happy

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Shoogly awesome photo.... thanks for posting.

'I can see my house from up here'.... well almost - I live just out of shot on top left hand corner of picture.

Yes it is getting warmer little but little.... it was cold first thing this am.

I LOVE MY JOB ... and everyone will be jealous when I tell them about my day!

As mentioned previously we woke to sunshine and a fresh blanket of snow - perhaps 5cm down here and 20cm up top. It was cold though to start but warmed considerably.

I had 5 teenagers this morning and we blasted around from place to place. 'Teaching' like this is all about getting them to a) try stuff b) inspire them and c) challenge them. So there is not much hanging around.... finding jumps and challenges that they find 'cool'. They responded well and im looking forward to another few sessions with them this week.

Longer lift queues all round today... unless you knew where to go in the afternoon that is!

Tignes - haven't been over that way nearly often enough this season... I enjoy the skiing over that way.

The afternoon was fun too as I had a lovely Irish couple who had never been this way and wanted a guided tour of the resort with a few hints and tips thrown in. We went to Le Fornet and it was lovely up there, especially in the afternoon sun, and the conditions were perfect with no lift queues - just perfect. We had a great slide and covered a LOT of ground.

The temperatures are definitely on the rise and as shoogly mentioned I may be down to only 2/3 or 4 layers by the end of the week - possibly!

Until tomorrow....

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Happy Mardi Gras

The lifties all dressed up (well most of them anyway) in various cartoon characters / silly costumes or whatever today to celebrate Shrove Tuesday...

This fella was scaring the kids half to death on the Marmottes lift as he was loading them (if he could see anything out of that head). I have to say that most of them made a real effort to dress up and everyone on the mountain was in good spirits today!

I took three really nice people for an intermediate lesson this morning (it was little colder in the morning) and then this afternoon it got really hot... The afternoon I had three teenagers boarding which was fun.

The highlight of the afternoon was watching the SAF chopper (owned by Val d'Isere and used for everything from emergencies to moving kit around and picking people who have 'heli-skied' over into Italy) doing some practice training at the top of the Solaise above the Ouillette. They were winching pisteurs up and down, flying with them dangling from the chopper, practicing picking up a stretcher etc etc etc. It was very reassuring and interesting to watch... they do such an amazing job when push comes to shove that we should be very proud (although not complacent) of the job they do. Sorry no photo as I could not get close enough.

The hot temps are set to continue this week although my cold seems to have deteriorated somewhat... this evening Clare and I are heading out for dinner with a couple of friends (thanks Becky and Scott for cooking) and then onto Jock and Susan (who run Snowberry) - it is their combined 100th birthday and they are taking over Dicks Tea Bar for a massive party... it shall NOT be a late night as I really need to keep my energies up as I am fully booked for lessons this week and pretty booked up next week too. Looking forward to the odd little bit of time off as I am shattered.

snow reports

Whacked and sun-tanned.

I was set to spend the day off-piste and for the most part it was jolly good.

Fresh tracks to be had within 100metres of the piste (if you know where to look).

I had the teens again and after the safety chat which we are obliged to do (and they listened pretty well actually) we headed out to the meadows and then the Borsat Meadows and then onto the Vallee Perdue (wish I had taken a photo but I was in a bit of a rush). It was like the M25 at rush hour when it came to step down... There has been a lot of snow this season so there are parts where it is very bumpy or narrow and / or steep and there is one section where you have to lower down over a little drop off and then further down there is the 'trip' through the hole in the rock. Anyway they loved their adventures this morning... I think as being teenagers they don't give much away!

By lunchtime it was getting warm... very warm. I was really hungry (and tired too) so enjoyed every minute of my lunch hour.

After lunch it was the seasonairres and I had promised to take them off piste and show them a few places they probably never new existed let alone skied. I took them up to the Pays Desert which blowed them away. I have to say that on a day like today the views were amazing...

... I was totally gobsmacked and angry by the number of people who blindly came off piste not knowing a) where they were going - just blindly following tracks (or me) or b) without any safety kit at all. Anyway after the Pays Desert I took a trip up to do the Grand Vallon - my first trip in there this Winter. At the top of the Signal poma I took a moment to show the guys the little arva check point which was erected in memory of the guy (David) who died in Sunny Bowl (Combe du Signal) last year on boxing day... that was a day that shook the whole resort as he was out with a VERY experienced mountain guide whom we all respect... but it just goes to show.

Anyway the Grand Vallon was fantastic with good snow top to bottom.... I overran by about 30 mins but who cares it was a fun afternoon.

Had a bit of a nightmare getting back into our flat this evening as the door lock broke so had to.... sort of.... break the door down.... but luckily it only sheared a little bit of the wood off which I have now fixed. It was the last thing I needed after a long day on the mountain and had a good sleep before dinner. When I woke up Clare was still not home... having a drink with a friend so I have just made the largest, meanest omelette ever which was yummy.

I am excited about tomorrow as we are having a ski school SAF helicopter training session at 8am... this will allow us individually to be signed off by them to book heli pick ups and drop offs with them (the red and white chopper you see flying around Val d'Isere). This will mean we can do the Lac De Chevril or Italy (Bonneval) drops etc and we can call the chopper in, make the landing zone safe, get the guests into the chopper, load the gear etc etc... so that will be a fun but quick training session before the day starts... hopefully I can get a photo or two tomorrow of that for you.

Off to bed - sleep well.

Steve Angus, totally missed the program you were on. Will it be repeated anywhere so i can watch it???

You know it makes sense.

Ricklovesthepowder, try here http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-wedding-proposal/4od

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Phil_D, Cheers!

A snowHead

Steve Angus,

If I can get everything sorted i may be over for my level 2 on the 17th March for two weeks. Do you know any chalet's or appartments etc that may be able to help for single travellers on a budget, otherwise it could be to expensive.

Any ideas greatfully recieved including transfer options Smile

A snowHead

Looks like the weather is warming up just in time for my arrival! I'm in Tignes next week and looking at the forecast I'm set for a good week! Loving the updates Steve keep up the good work Very Happy

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Phil_D - you got it... have fun watching it (eeek) Ricklovesthepowder.

Curtains really stuck for single accommodation... try the UCPA but that is a tough one. You could also try contact James at Peak Services or ICE (all google-able) as they may have options... as far as transfers are concerned - id always go for Bensbus as its about £70 return from Geneva and they are regular (especially at the weekends).

PtotheJ Thanks... yes it is warm for sure now after all those weeks of harsh cold!

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A long but generally good day

Red sky in the morning... and all that. Photo courtesy of RadioValdisere.com

Where did the sun go? The heat certainly did not disappear today even though the sun may have.

The day started early as most of us from TDC were down at the SAF chopper hanger in Tignes Les Boisses for an 8am meeting with the chief pilot. We went through all the safety aspects of loading and unloading the chopper, preparing the landing spots etc... sorry no possibility of getting photos (just was not the place to do it - sorry). We were also shown how to 'kill' the engine if there was an emergency like the pilot taking ill or crashing (scary) etc. Anyway lots of things to remember and procedures to follow therefore ill have to read up again before doing it for real next time... we are talking about doing a practice run this weekend... it is mighty cheap to do a pick up from the Lac de Chevril and back to Val actually - with 4 people it is only about €30 a head!

We overrun and had to dash back to Val d'Isere and we only just made it back to the meeting point for 9am... but we made it.

Lovely view of the Tignes Dam from the helipad in Tignes Les Boisses.

I had the same nice people from a couple of days ago back this am and they skiied well... the light was a little flat but they managed a good selection of reds and black runs... even though a couple of them had a bad hangover!

After lunch I was taking the nice Irish couple for a tour of the resort... a different part of the Espace Killy this time. We managed to get into the hall for the Funicular in Val Claret over in Tignes and then they announced the Funi was shutting - no explanation at all... that annoyed us... we made our way outside and they also has closed the Lanche chairlift so there was no way up onto the Tignes glacier... have no idea what was going on (anyone know?). So anyway we headed to Les Brevieries and had a nice ski down there before heading back over Val way at the end of the day.

This evening I have been relaxing and working out the logistics for transfers this weekend.

I am glad that even though the weather closed in a little this afternoon...

...it does not look like it is going to rain or anything and tomorrow the forecast is for this heat to continue with sun.

unfortunately no snow is forecast for the next week or so... so depending on how you look at things means either early Spring, fantastic conditions for skiing or annoying as no powder to ski in.

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Hi Steve Angus, Just watched it, you soppy ba*&$&d!!!!!! Was quite funny actually, watched it with the Mrs to be and Clare and her were exactly the same after asking the question, SAY YES OR BLOODY NO!!! Was a really good watch and congratulations to the both of you.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Small town politics, losing my rag and melting...

How can all this happen in just one day.... here's how.

It was SO hot today... way to many layers on. Headed up to the Tignes Glacier and the views were STUNNING...

Amazing scenery but it was totally lost of the teens (in picture) I was teaching - oh well not to worry.

By the end of the day it was so hot that we had some slush on the pistes, the roads and pavements. So we are going through melt-freeze cycles this early in the season. Lets hope that it gets a little cooler sometime soon (not forecast im afraid) so we can have some great piste skiing for a while longer - although I do love Spring in the mountains! Slushy bumps abound in places that were south and west facing by the end of the day - FUN!

Changing stories... apparently there was an accident on the blue run under the Glacier Express lift up on Solaise yesterday afternoon. The pisteurs blamed the STVI (lift company) - not sure what they were blaming them for... anyway the STVI in turn blamed the pisteurs and their arm of groomers who work their magic on the pistes overnight. Storm in a tea-cup.... not sure the details. Anyway cutting a long story short they ended up grooming the entrance area to the Glacier Express really badly overnight that getting up to the loading area required side slipping... and some. Really not sure what, why and whether it has now been resolved bit it all sounds a little silly and childish!

Mad... - damn right I was. As I skied down into Val Claret with my teens this am... some french guy (who looked like he was wearing (he wasn't in the end) an ESF uniform) came wizzing through me and some other random skiers who were skiing along... I would describe our speed in the area as 'average.' Bearing in mind that it is a bottleneck at the best of times and there are lots of kids classes etc going on. Anyway as he came past and skillfully shuffled between the various people in the area he clipped my skis at high speed. I did not fall or anything like that but he made no attempt to stop (in case he had just caused an accident) or wave an arm in the air to apologise or anything. I was MAD so set off (unbeknown to him) at high speed to make up the ground (as he was going MUCH faster than me and getting further away by the second). It took me until virtually the bottom of the piste by the entrance to the Funiculair to catch up with him. As it turned out he was by a bank of snow (still going) when I managed to slide past in front of him and whack the brakes on... I gave him a damn big yelling at (in French) and I think he was quite stunned and immediately apologised. I was still yelling at him saying that it was a beginner area and he should show some respect etc when my teens caught up with me.... at that moment he skied off (the 'conversation' was over it was OK) and I was aware that my teens (and half the people in the area) were all staring at me.... anyway I calmed down and just thought 'how selfish.'

Izzy enjoys the skiing from the top of the Grand Motte as everyone lower down was melting - the pistes up top were perfect!

My Irish couple in the afternoon were VERY hungover so I went gentle on them and they skied well - especially at the end when Andrew followed me down over some slushy bumps on the Face!

Clare and I just had a yummy curry and now we are eating a (late) pancake Shrove Tuesday treat (thanks Clare - yummy).

Will be having an early night as I am going to Geneva and back tomorrow and then AFTER I get back I need to turn back around and drive to Moutiers and back in the evening (don't ask).

So ill sign off and head to bed - may be able to do my report tomorrow evening but suspect NOT as ill be back late and will be shattered!

You'll need to Register first of course.

Steve Angus, well done on giving the "ski clipper" a good shouting at, so annoying with idiots like that around. A friend of mine I was out with today had a similar incident when a guy from above her clearly didn't see her and managed to stop on top of her skis, he blamed her for turning across the slope, he was the uphill skier. This is why I feel safer off the piste when conditions allow.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Nice one Steve for yelling at the 'clipper' - a lesser skier might have fallen and it's very irresponsible to ski fast in crowded areas. I'm so looking forward to skiing in Val next month, I will definitely come and say hi if I get the chance. I was knocked over by a snowboarder in Val Thorens a couple of years ago. It was in the main ski area by the lifts and VERY busy, I was skiing quite slowly and doing short turns for this reason. The guy was French and didn't even stop to see if I was OK! He knocked me absolutely flying from behind. A British group behind me was outraged!

After all it is free

SUMMER??????

It was always going to be a long day with the transfers. What I was not ready for was seeing the queues of cars at about 10-11am stacked up ALL the way from Albertville to Bourg St Maurice (well more or less as the traffic control had started early). I was going the other way and it was not too bad a journey although we certainly had hold ups... including a stop in Bourg to wash the car it took nearly 5 hours so not too bad.

As soon as I got to Geneva I was worried that I would not be able to get a parking slot as it can take ages to get a slot but I was very lucky and slotted straight in. It was SUCH a lovely and warm day (see photo above taken as we sat in a traffic jam next to Lake Annecy) that it really feels like Spring has arrived... the snow has certainly melted on the drive to Geneva.... two weeks ago as you may remember it was driving snow and wind between Annecy and Geneva - today there were people jogging in shorts and t-shirts along the side of the road - wow how the weather can change!

A quick lunch and our next guests were through (same guests as before Christmas.... Linda, Rachael and co).

I explained that we could be in for one heck of a long journey home so I decided to do 'all the back roads' with Linda navigating. I had done some of them before but not for a long time. I new that the police would be on all the motorway exits stopping non local '73' cars from coming off so that local roads and villages did not become clogged up. So it was going to have to be off road all the way from Albertville. The first 15 mins as we stared to our left (or right) at the motorway the cars were wizzing way faster than us and I thought that perhaps the morning mega-rush had now passed and I should re-join the motorway but I stood my ground and within a couple of mins the cars on the motorway were stationery!

Apart from one little bit I managed to keep us on the back roads (which was a VERY pleasant journey actually in the sun) all the way to Bourg... we did the food shop then set off up the hill knowing that we had dodged several hours of gridlock (I suspected).

'easy' I thought as we hit the last stretch from Super U to Val.... it was going just fine until we got to about 3 miles before the Tignes Les Brevieries turn off and the traffic came to a complete stop in both directions. We could see about 500 yards ahead some blue, red and amber lights flashing and I thought there had been a crash. Thoughts of a crash turned into a bad crash with a fire when I saw what I thought was a badly directed water cannon spraying across the road and up into the air. After 30 mins or so both sides of the road started moving at the same time.... it was no accident but an avalanche that had come down and buried / cut the road off..... CRAZY. It was the snow clearers and police lights that I had seen flashing ahead and the 'water' was actually the snow blowers shifting the snow off the road and down into the ravine below.

Just goes to show that temperature (or wind alone) can lead to avalanches!

I did a quick turn around as had to take our outgoing guests to Moutiers for their overnight train - by now the roads were all empty so it was a fast return trip.

The Face de Bellevarde lit up impressively as I returned the car home at about 11pm.

I staggered home and slept so well.

Another full on day today teaching then a half day tomorrow - I am so looking forward to some time off - I am knackered.

waynos and Piccadilly thanks for your support. I think people could do with reading the rules of the slope... I hate it when people try to blame the dh skier for 'turning in front of them' - that is an invalid excuse as everyone should know! Please do come and say hi Piccadilly if you get a chance.

Steve Angus, wow, what a day! I never knew the police stopped non-73 cars turning off the motorway; you learn something new every day on SHs.

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pam w, +1

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The view from............ Val d'Isere and the Espace Killy

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